In a surprising development, Israeli Ambassador Danny Danon, the newly elected vice-president of the UN General Assembly, will preside at a sitting for the first time next week when Netanyahu addresses the world body.

With the opening of the 72nd Regular Session of the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday, Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations Danny Danon has officially begun serving as a vice-president.

Danon was elected as a representative of the Western European and Others (WEOG) regional group. In addition to presiding over GA meetings, he will take part in setting the Assembly’s agenda as well as overseeing rules and decorum during sessions.

“I am proud to represent Israel in this important role that reinforces our position as an equal partner at the UN. We have proven once again that there is no role we cannot fulfill in the world’s most important international organization,” the Israeli envoy stated regarding this historic occasion.

“We have proven once again that Israel is ready and able to serve in significant positions in the UN and the attempts to block this progress will not succeed,” he said when elected to the position in June, referring to the blatant anti-Israel bias at the world body.

Danon will preside over a General Assembly session for the first time when Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addresses the UN next Tuesday, September 19.